Moving Out of State

Moving day has finally come — however it’s a little bit harder to say good bye this time. That’s because you’re not just moving across town or a few cities away. Moving out of state puts you hours or even sometimes days away from your previous home.

Moving to a new state can be just as rewarding as moving across town. There are some things to consider however.

Not to worry though, in many cases, cross country and cross town moves are similar. They both require you to pack up all of your belongings and load them in a moving truck. They also both require you to do the reverse task at the end. The driving in the middle is the only real difference, and when crossing state lines there are a few rules of the road to keep in mind while driving.

Hands-free/Cell Phone Laws

Distracted driving not only puts yourself at risk, but your property and others on the road too. (Image via CC/Wikimedia Eurobas)

If you do need to make a phone call or send a text, we recommend pulling over when it’s safe to do so or letting a passenger take care of the job for you. If this isn’t possible, keep in mind that once you cross state lines, those laws become the ones you must follow. States don’t always post signs that show the laws either, so be cautious and do a little research ahead of time. Crossing six states means that you could possibly encounter six different laws.

Legality of Radar Detectors

Many drivers like to use radar detectors to stay alert while on the move. Whether you’re in a personal vehicle or a moving truck, it’s important to realize that once you cross state lines those radar detectors might not be legal. After you’ve planned out your trip and know what states you will be going through, research online and find out the laws.

Depending on what state you’re in, left turns may be trickier than your home state. (Image via CC/Wikimedia Sugeesh)

Left Hand Turns

Left hand turns are another thing that changes from state to state. What I’m talking about here is pulling out into the intersection to make a left hand turn and then completing the turn as the light turns yellow and possibly red. In some states this is legal — other states it will earn you a ticket. Like mentioned above, figure out what states you’ll be driving through and then do some extra research.

Weigh Stations

Spending a lot of time on the interstate means you’re bound to pass a handful of weigh stations. Which brings up the question, “Do I need to stop at these?”

As a general rule of thumb, U-Haul moving trucks carrying household goods do not need to stop at weigh stations, because they are not being used for commercial moves. However, some states do require that all trucks stop — so if in doubt, stop.

U-Box Storage Containers & Moving Help

If all of the above items seems like too much to worry about — or rather you don’t feel like driving for hours and hours three days in a row, leave the work to Moving Help® or pack your items in a U-Box container and enjoy the scenery from high above the clouds from the comfort of an airplane. Moving Helpers can drive the truck for you and U-Box moving containers can be ordered for door to door delivery.

Moving Help can help you load the truck and even drive it to your new home too.

Have you ever done a cross country move? What has your experience been? Do you have any tips that you can share with us? Let us know in the comments below.

I moved from California to South Carolina a few years ago; shipped my household goods and car. I regret not driving because the trucking company did not delivered my car in the time frame they promised. Also, now I want to see more of the country.

Speaking of cars, if you have a car loan, go to the bank or loan company to get permission to take the car out of state. In my case, they gave me a temporary title that could only be used for that purpose. Also have your loan papers on hand when you register in the new state. I won’t go into details because it varies from state to state, but having all this paperwork made this all go very smoothly.